21 Jul Rise in recorded sex crimes for Abuse of Position of Trust in Essex
by Matthew Martino
There were 14 offences involving adults in positions of trust who have sexual contact with children in their care in Essex since 2011, official data shows.
But the NSPCC fears the true extent of abuse is much worse, because the law doesn’t apply to youth work roles such as sports coaches and leaders of religious groups.
The NSPCC’s #TrustToLead campaign is calling for laws on Position of Trust to be extended, to better protect children in sport and other youth activities.
A legal loophole means adults with regular and intense contact with children in sport and other activities are able to groom them from a young age, and abuse that trusting relationship to have sexual contact as soon as the child turns 16.
